Widely recognized as a market leader for its innovation, strong research base, and accessibility, the ninth
edition of William L. Heward’s Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education continues this
tradition of excellence.
A FOCUS ON EXCEPTIONAL TEACHERS
• Featured Teacher essays Each chapter begins with a first-person essay by master teachers that
reflects the joys, challenges, and realities of teaching exceptional children. Drawn from urban,
suburban, and rural school districts across the country, the 18 featured teachers share personal
experiences and wisdom gathered from years of instructing children in a variety of school settings.
• MyEducationLab Access to MyEducationLab for this text allows readers to see, hear, and
learn from the teachers featured in the text through video. Throughout the book,
MyEducationLab icons connect key content and concepts practiced by master teachers to
Homework & Exercises on MyEducationLab.
• Tips for Beginning Teachers Each chapter culminates with practical, quick tips for beginning
teachers–offered by the master teacher featured in each chapter–on how to avoid common
pitfalls in the classroom.
A FOCUS ON EFFECTIVE RESEARCH-BASED PRACTICES
• Teaching & Learning features All of the strategies described in the Teaching & Learning features
are classroom-tested, supported by research, and provide clear and practical step-by-step
guidelines for designing, implementing, and evaluating instruction for students with disabilities.
• MyEducationLab Each of the research-based practices discussed in the Teaching & Learning
features are connected to Homework & Exercises or Building Teaching Skills activities in
MyEducationLab that extend and further develop these strategies through video, artifacts,
or articles.
A FOCUS ON ISSUES AND TRENDS
• Current Issues and Future Trends features These essays highlight the ever-changing nature of
special education with the controversial issues, triumphs, struggles, and interventions involved in
special education.
For Future Preparation and Teacher Certification:
• CEC Performance-Based Standards The Common Core standards are printed on the inside front
cover of the text. Margin notes throughout the text link critical content to specific knowledge and
skill statements from CEC’s Performance-Based Standards for Beginning Teachers.
• Coverage of PRAXIS IITM Tests A PRAXIS Study Grid in the Appendix shows where content areas
of the PRAXIS II Test, Education of Exceptional Students: Core Principles, are discussed in the text.
A listing of the principles is on the inside back cover of this text.